Tips on Being Virus-Safe

  • Don't panic! The problem may not be a computer virus.
  • Never put a disk from an unknown source into your computer.
  • Keep your original software on write protected disks or CD's.
  • Never open attachments you receive via e-mail, unless you are expecting the attachment from a trusted source.
  • Watch for odd activity on your computer.
  • Back up regularly. At least once a week. More often if you can't stand to loose a week's work. AND TEST YOUR BACKUPS to be sure they can be restored.
  • Check out new programs, commercial, freeware or shareware BEFORE they can go onto your computer. Use at least one recently updated anti virus scanner program.
  • Do not let anyone use your computer un-supervised. The one disk they put in your computer, or the one web site they visit may be the source of lots of frustration and lost time.
  • Don't use illegal (pirated) copies of software. A person who copies software illegally may not really care if the program has picked up a virus or trojan horse along the way, if their ethics allow other illegal activities.
  • Use a current anti-virus program, preferably one that also scans for trojan horse programs and e-mail worms. Scan all files of all types that are coming onto your computer. If you do not have one, get one from your departmental system administrator, or have them contact ACS Software Distribution, or get one off the shelf at the UCSD bookstore. If you purchase from the bookstore, immediately get the updated definitions from the vendor.

    ACS Software Distribution handles the distribution of the UCSD Sophos mail server, server & desktop anti-virus products (Windows, Mac & UNIX).

    Sophos Anti-virus is the "default" anti-virus software for UCSD.

    ACS Software Distribution also distributes the Anti-virus products from Symantec (Norton enterprise), and Trend Micro (LARGE Volume) anti-virus products.

  • Be an aware computer user. Join a computer user group, subscribe to your anti-virus software vendors e-mail notification service if they have one. If they don't be sure to at least get your weekly updates to the software.

Useful Virus Sites

Submission Addresses

If you have checked and you appear to have a new virus, the sample submission addresses of the better-known developers are:
  • Command Software - - virus@commandcom.com
  • Computer Associates (US) - - virus@cai.com
  • Computer Associates (Vet/IPE) - - ipevirus@vet.com.au
  • DialogueScience (Dr.Web) - - Antivir@dials.ru
  • Eset (NOD32) - - trnka@eset.sk
  • F-Secure Corp. - - samples@f-secure.com
  • Frisk Software - - viruslab@complex.is
  • Kaspersky Labs - - newvirus@avp.ru
  • Network Associates (US) - - virus_research@nai.com
  • Norman (NVC) - - analysis@norman.no
  • Sophos Plc. - - support@sophos.com
  • Symantec - - avsubmit@symantec.com
  • Trend Micro - - virus_doctor@trendmicro.com

Klez

Symantec instructions for removing the KLEZ worm
Pandasoft instructions for removing the KLEZ worm